The FAST Filmmaking Festival in Cheyenne screened the top movies and presented awards at the Historic Atlas Theatre in Downtown Cheyenne. The top films can be watched on the YouTube Channel.

“Preservation” by Shawn Crochet and “The Diary of Robert Metchum Dodge” tied for Best Picture. Here are the films that played at the event, including the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board documentary about the board’s work and it’s sponsorship of the FFMF.

1) Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board Documentary

2) Wyoming Hereford Ranch – Directed by Barbara Sandick

– Best Historic Preservation Treatment $50

– Best Cinematography $50

3) Historic Haunting – Directed by Steve Stoner

– (tie) Best Comedy $25

4) Why Historic Preservation Matters – Produced by Keefe Van Dyke

– (tie) Best Comedy $25

– Best Actor – Keefe Van Dyke $50

5) Power to Forgive – Produced – Directed by Jake Ward

– (tie) Best Youth Film $100

6) New Friends – Directed by Brendon Threewitt (movie shot on an iPad)

The basis for the challenge this year melds particular historic places(s) over 50 years old, and your story that describes why the place matters historically and in the present. You can make a fictional narrative based on a factual place, such as the example of “On the Road” which is a fictional account by Jack Kerouac about a night spent in Cheyenne during Frontier Days, but based on factual places, like the bus station, which no longer exists. We’re also looking for straight documentaries. Establish one of these places and then build your story. We had some good ideas discussed yesterday, including the Irwin Barn. If you have another historic place, give it a try. here are some ideas for you:

* Cheyenne has a rich military history. The current FE Warren Air Force Base is just one of many outposts in Cheyenne, some of which had the duty of protecting the railroad – mix and match stories! To film on the Base you have to get permission.

- What was the evolution of military presence in Cheyenne? Pick an historic moment in Cheyenne military history and make a movie around it.

* The Union Pacific Railroad: The UP still has a strong presence in Cheyenne. The UP depot was renovated and while no longer used as a passenger stop, it is the home of a railroad museum, a restaurant and a big open space for meetings. Author Ernest Hemingway reportedly disembarked at the Cheyenne depot and married Martha Gellhorn. – How has the UP been an influence on the development of Cheyenne and the west?

* The Atlas Theatre: The Atlas Theatre 210 E. 16th Street has been a theater since the 19th century. It was the venue for some of the best stage plays of it’s day, including one produced by Harry Frazee who was also owner of the Boston Braves and best known for selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees so he could finance “No, No, Nanette.” Rumor has it that the Marx Brothers jumped off the train and performed at the Atlas Theatre, then hopped back on the train.- What if that actually happened? What other story can you imagine happened at the Atlas?

* The Wyoming State Capitol: The state capitol building located at 24th Street and Capitol Avenue was first opened in 1890. It is currently undergoing substantial renovation. The original legislature of the Wyoming Territory met in the Rollins House Hotel at what is now 1651 Carey Avenue. – What interesting stories can you dig up about the current state capitol building?

* Top 3 Cheyenne historic buildings in danger – To get you started, there’s the Hynd’s Building on the corner of 16th Street and Capitol Avenue; The Pioneer Hotel 209 W. 17th Street; The old Fowler’s Building at 17th and Carey Avenue.- You pick ‘em!

* Downtown Cheyenne historic building preservation success stories: There are plenty of historic buildings that have been preserved over the years, even though their uses may have changed. As examples, some continue in operation with the same use such as the Atlas Theatre and the Lincoln Theater. What remains of the Paramount Theater was renovated and is now a coffee shop, where movies are shown.- Pick out no more than three buildings to profile.

* The buildings designed by renowned Cheyenne architect William Dubois: He was quite prolific with many of the structures he designed still in use, including the Atlas Theatre 210 W. 16th Street; the old Cheyenne High School 2810 House Avenue; and several in Downtown Cheyenne.- Make profile of William Dubois and his contributions to design in Cheyenne.

* The Historic Plains Hotel: Ghostly visitors supposedly haunt the hotel located at 1600 Central Avenue.- What are some of the best stories?

* The legendary watering holes in Cheyenne: There are plenty of locals who have great stories about, for example, the Mayflower, the Albany, the Crown, the Blue Bird, the Elks Club, The Wigwam.- What are some experiences that patrons have had in the past and prospects for the future?

* The convergence of art, culture and historic preservation: Pick at least two buildings in Downtown Cheyenne where we love to spend time eating, sleeping, having parties, listening to music and being entertained.- What was the building’s use in the past, what is it now and what about the future?

* The Whipple House: This historic home at 300 E. 17th Street has been a residence, a fancy restaurant, an art gallery and is now vacant.- What does the future hold for this place?

* The Mid Century Modern Era: This period of design, architecture, and urban development was important in the recent development of Cheyenne. As an example, this was a significant time in the history of Cheyenne, particularly with the key role Cheyenne played during the Cold War. Several outlying developments, namely Cole, Sun Valley and Buffalo Ridge additions were constructed to house the people drawn to Cheyenne to support the nuclear arsenal. There are many abandoned missile silos around Cheyenne that are viewable.- Pick a missile silo, a ranch style house in one of these subdivisions. What is the importance of the Mid Century Modern era in Cheyenne?

* Pick an Historic District in Cheyenne: This is a very broad category. The historic districts in Cheyenne can be found on the city of Cheyenne website http://www.cheyennecity.org/index.aspx?NID=548- Select a district and some representative buildings. What do people who live there feel about living in an historic district and do they know anything about the previous owners?

* The sights and sounds of the Lincoln Highway: Highway 30 extends coast to coast and runs right through the heart of Cheyenne. In his legendary book “On the Road” Jack Kerouac recounts the night his character Sal Paradise spent in Cheyenne during “Wild West Days” (Frontier Days) on his way to Denver.- Pick a stretch of the Lincolnway / highway 30 in or around Cheyenne. What were the sights and sounds of the Lincoln Highway back in the day and what are they now?

* Esther Hobart Morris and her home converted into the Morris House Bistro: Esther Hobart Morris is credited for convincing members of the Wyoming Territorial Legislature for the first time in American history to grant women the right to vote. She and her husband moved to Cheyenne and lived at 2114 Warren Avenue.- Can you tell the story and use the context of her Cheyenne home, then and now? Does the Morris story frame any other Wyoming civil rights stories?

* Story of the Lakeview Cemetery: This cemetery was established in the 1800s when the Union Pacific Railroad came to Cheyenne. Self-guided walking tours available. A self-guided tour booklet is available and contains information on those who left a mark on Cheyenne’s history. Pick up info at the cemetery office at 2501 Seymour Avenue- Can you give a brief history of the cemetery and profile no more than three of the famous people interred there?

* The trial and hanging of Tom Horn: Tom Horn was an infamous lawman, assassin and detective. He was tried in a courtroom which still exists above what is now the Wyoming Home store at 216 W. Lincolnway. He was tried of killing young Willie Nickel and hanged.- Establish the courtroom history. There are conflicting stories about the killing, which version do you believe?

* Governors of the Historic Governors’ Mansion: Governor Ed Herschler was the last to inhabit the old governor’ s mansion which is now a state historic site at 300 E. 21st Street.- Establish the mansion and profile no more than three governors who resided in the historic home or come up with your own premise

* Story of the Keefe Cottages: Architect MP Keefe designed this Romanesque row of homes between East 22nd Street and Evans Avenue- Everyone sees them, but few know their story. What can you tell us about them through history the eyes of residents?

* The legacy of local historian and schoolteacher Shirley Flynn: Shirley Flynn taught school in the Laramie County School District but was more known for her work in the community as an historian.- Can you track down any former students or others who can tell about the legacy of Shirley Flynn and her contributions to Cheyenne historic preservation?

* Cheyenne’s monuments and markers: There’s a state of Wyoming effort to give notice to some of the interesting, but maybe not very well known places. The ones in Laramie County can be found by searching this data base http://wyshpo.uwyo.edu/mmdatabase/Default.aspx – What are the connections of at least three of these markers and monuments to the past, present and future (Alan O’Hashi is a former student of Shirley Flynn)?

Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn were married somewhere in the Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot.

The basis for the challenge this year melds particular historic PLACE(S) over 50 years old, and your story that describes why the place matters historically and in the present. You can make a fictional narrative based on a factual place, such as the example of “On the Road” which is a fictional account by Jack Kerouac about a night spent in Cheyenne during Frontier Days, but based on factual places, like the bus station, which no longer exists. We’re also looking for straight documentaries. Establish one of these places and then build your story:

Cheyenne has a rich military history. The current FE Warren Air Force Base is just one of many outposts in Cheyenne, some of which had the duty of protecting the railroad – mix and match stories! To film on the Base you have to get permission.- What was the evolution of military presence in Cheyenne? Pick an historic moment in Cheyenne military history and make a movie around it.

* The Union Pacific Railroad: The UP still has a strong presence in Cheyenne. The UP depot was renovated and while no longer used as a passenger stop, it is the home of a railroad museum, a restaurant and a big open space for meetings. Author Ernest Hemingway reportedly disembarked at the Cheyenne depot and married Martha Gellhorn. – How has the UP been an influence on the development of Cheyenne and the west?

* The Atlas Theatre: The Atlas Theatre 210 E. 16th Street has been a theater since the 19th century. It was the venue for some of the best stage plays of it’s day, including one produced by Harry Frazee who was also owner of the Boston Braves and best known for selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees so he could finance “No, No, Nanette.” Rumor has it that the Marx Brothers jumped off the train and performed at the Atlas Theatre, then hopped back on the train.- What if that actually happened? What other story can you imagine happened at the Atlas?

* The Wyoming State Capitol: The state capitol building located at 24th Street and Capitol Avenue was first opened in 1890. It is currently undergoing substantial renovation. The original legislature of the Wyoming Territory met in the Rollins House Hotel at what is now 1651 Carey Avenue. – What interesting stories can you dig up about the current state capitol building?

* Top 3 Cheyenne historic buildings in danger – To get you started, there’s the Hynd’s Building on the corner of 16th Street and Capitol Avenue; The Pioneer Hotel 209 W. 17th Street; The old Fowler’s Building at 17th and Carey Avenue.- You pick ‘em!

* Downtown Cheyenne historic building preservation success stories: There are plenty of historic buildings that have been preserved over the years, even though their uses may have changed. As examples, some continue in operation with the same use such as the Atlas Theatre and the Lincoln Theater. What remains of the Paramount Theater was renovated and is now a coffee shop, where movies are shown.- Pick out no more than three buildings to profile.

* The buildings designed by renowned Cheyenne architect William Dubois: He was quite prolific with many of the structures he designed still in use, including the Atlas Theatre 210 W. 16th Street; the old Cheyenne High School 2810 House Avenue; and several in Downtown Cheyenne.- Make profile of William Dubois and his contributions to design in Cheyenne.

* The Historic Plains Hotel: Ghostly visitors supposedly haunt the hotel located at 1600 Central Avenue.- What are some of the best stories?

* The legendary watering holes in Cheyenne: There are plenty of locals who have great stories about, for example, the Mayflower, the Albany, the Crown, the Blue Bird, the Elks Club, The Wigwam.- What are some experiences that patrons have had in the past and prospects for the future?

* The convergence of art, culture and historic preservation: Pick at least two buildings in Downtown Cheyenne where we love to spend time eating, sleeping, having parties, listening to music and being entertained.- What was the building’s use in the past, what is it now and what about the future?

* The Whipple House: This historic home at 300 E. 17th Street has been a residence, a fancy restaurant, an art gallery and is now vacant.- What does the future hold for this place?

* The Mid Century Modern Era: This period of design, architecture, and urban development was important in the recent development of Cheyenne. As an example, this was a significant time in the history of Cheyenne, particularly with the key role Cheyenne played during the Cold War. Several outlying developments, namely Cole, Sun Valley and Buffalo Ridge additions were constructed to house the people drawn to Cheyenne to support the nuclear arsenal. There are many abandoned missile silos around Cheyenne that are viewable.- Pick a missile silo, a ranch style house in one of these subdivisions. What is the importance of the Mid Century Modern era in Cheyenne?

* Pick an Historic District in Cheyenne: This is a very broad category. The historic districts in Cheyenne can be found on the city of Cheyenne website http://www.cheyennecity.org/index.aspx?NID=548- Select a district and some representative buildings. What do people who live there feel about living in an historic district and do they know anything about the previous owners?

* The sights and sounds of the Lincoln Highway: Highway 30 extends coast to coast and runs right through the heart of Cheyenne. In his legendary book “On the Road” Jack Kerouac recounts the night his character Sal Paradise spent in Cheyenne during “Wild West Days” (Frontier Days) on his way to Denver.- Pick a stretch of the Lincolnway / highway 30 in or around Cheyenne. What were the sights and sounds of the Lincoln Highway back in the day and what are they now?

* Esther Hobart Morris and her home converted into the Morris House Bistro: Esther Hobart Morris is credited for convincing members of the Wyoming Territorial Legislature for the first time in American history to grant women the right to vote. She and her husband moved to Cheyenne and lived at 2114 Warren Avenue.- Can you tell the story and use the context of her Cheyenne home, then and now? Does the Morris story frame any other Wyoming civil rights stories?

* Story of the Lakeview Cemetery: This cemetery was established in the 1800s when the Union Pacific Railroad came to Cheyenne. Self-guided walking tours available. A self-guided tour booklet is available and contains information on those who left a mark on Cheyenne’s history. Pick up info at the cemetery office at 2501 Seymour Avenue- Can you give a brief history of the cemetery and profile no more than three of the famous people interred there?

* The trial and hanging of Tom Horn: Tom Horn was an infamous lawman, assassin and detective. He was tried in a courtroom which still exists above what is now the Wyoming Home store at 216 W. Lincolnway. He was tried of killing young Willie Nickel and hanged.- Establish the courtroom history. There are conflicting stories about the killing, which version do you believe?

* Governors of the Historic Governors’ Mansion: Governor Ed Herschler was the last to inhabit the old governor’ s mansion which is now a state historic site at 300 E. 21st Street.- Establish the mansion and profile no more than three governors who resided in the historic home or come up with your own premise.

* Story of the Keefe Cottages: Architect MP Keefe designed this Romanesque row of homes between East 22nd Street and Evans Avenue- Everyone sees them, but few know their story. What can you tell us about them through history the eyes of residents?

* The legacy of local historian and schoolteacher Shirley Flynn: Shirley Flynn taught school in the Laramie County School District but was more known for her work in the community as an historian.- Can you track down any former students or others who can tell about the legacy of Shirley Flynn and her contributions to Cheyenne historic preservation?

* Cheyenne’s monuments and markers: There’s a state of Wyoming effort to give notice to some of the interesting, but maybe not very well known places. The ones in Laramie County can be found by searching this data base http://wyshpo.uwyo.edu/mmdatabase/Default.aspx – What are the connections of at least three of these markers and monuments to the past, present and future (Alan O’Hashi is a former student of Shirley Flynn)?

Join the facebook page by clicking on the photo of teams waiting for the brief at the Plains Hotel.

Start getting your teams together for the 2014 edition of the Fast Filmmaking Festival – Cheyenne. Teams have from the third Friday in September – September 19 to the first Friday in October – October 3, 2014 to complete their productions.

Top prize is $500 for best film; $200 for best student (under 20) film. There will be $50 awards for Best Screenplay, Best Music, Best Actor.

The FFMF is one that converges arts and history and movies. We’ll provide two or more story lines that have to do with history in Cheyenne to which the movies must adhere.

Put some thought into this. We’ll be posting some story lines about historic events and people in Cheyenne well before September 19 so you can start getting your stories together. The basic rules are:

– Registration happens anytime before October 3rd through the website. There will be live registration on September 19 at the Plains Hotel starting at 4pm.

– The “Brief” with the props, phrases, locations and other requirements to be included in each movie will be available on Friday September 19th at 6pm on this website or live at the Plains Hotel 1600 W. 16th Street on the same day and time.

– Historic events and places are more important this year. Last year, most of the movies used the “low hanging fruit” approach and just made casual mention or reference to the historic event and then went off on their own with an unrelated story. Straight documentaries are “in bounds” too – using photos, stock footage and interviews with ‘experts’ or those who lived the experience. In 2014, we want stories that better incorporate historic Cheyenne. Think about how that happened in “Shakespeare in Love” as an example. The movie was based on a true character, William Shakespeare, but was about a totally fictitious relationship between Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare when he was writing Romeo and Juliet. Now doing period pieces can look hokey in no-budget movies, but think about how you can meld historic period stories into the present. There will be some posts about your story telling.

– Non-local projects are encouraged. There are no requirements to actually be in Cheyenne locations. We allow green screens, use of historic photos and stock footage.

– The deadline to upload your movie to a designated youtube channel, which will be made know later, is 6:00pm October 3, 2014. Every year, some team has major problems with compressing their movie so that it is a small, high resolution file, rather than a humongous, mega-gigabyte file that doesn’t upload correctly. This is one of those things that there really are no excuses since you have two weeks to make your movie. If you have questions about this, contact us well before hand. There also are instructions that are available for download on the site.

– Rules subject to change. The rules are much looser than they used to be, but may be changed. Check back from time to time or join the facebook page to keep up with the latest. You’re pretty much allowed to use all the tools available to you to make your movie. Since production value should not be an issue, then the main voting criteria are based on the story. So spend some time on your screenplay. The required props can be plopped in to your production easily. The trick will be crafting your story so that it better interlaces with one of the many historic events that happened in Cheyenne.

– The Small Print and Disclaimer. Portions of the Fast Filmmaking Festival were financed in part with funds granted to the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Commission from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office administers these federal funds as part of Wyoming’s Certified Local Government program. This program received Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Dept. of the Interior. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1073, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Dept. of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127

The Shoot Out Cheyenne screened the top 10 films for 2013 at the Atlas Theatre on October 6th. Best Film was awarded to “First Batch” by Steve Klein. TSOC has changed in its 5th year and is changing its name to The Fast Filmmaking Festival Cheyenne (FFFC).

The partnership with the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board was a new one which will continue into the future. The event is not only and arts and cultural one but also one that converges with history.

There were 26 entrants in the filmmaking festival. Two panels of a total of 17 volunteer judges reviewed and ranked the films and selected the categorical prize winners.

The format was changed to allow producers two weeks to complete their projects as a hedge against bad weather. In 2012, there was a foot of snow and cold weather which also was the case in 2013.

On Saturday night, the filmmakers’ reception and performance by the Jalan Crossland Band rocked the theater.

Production crews must select a minimum of seven of the eleven to use in their film. One of which MUST be in the first 30 seconds (30 seconds includes opening credits) of the film. In addition to the Mandatory Items, SEVEN of the ELEVEN items must include at least 2 LOCATIONS, 3 PROPS, 1 PLOT ELEMENT, THE PHRASE

Mandatory Items

In addition to the Seven of Eleven Brief items, the following are mandatory:

– Wyoming Arts Council Art Scape Magazine

– Visit Cheyenne “Live the Legend”

– Smash Cut Edit – one scene abruptly cuts to another without transition, usually meant to startle the audience

The Eleven

1. PLOT ELEMENTS - (do some research and build it into your story):

– Author Ernest Hemingway and novelist and war reporter Martha Gellhorn were married at the Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot in November 1940. (No specific location is currently known)

– William Bright sponsored a women’s suffrage bill before the Wyoming Territorial Legislature; Governor John A. Campbell signs bill approving full suffrage forwomen in 1869. (Plaque located around 209 west 17th Street).

– When the InterOcean Hotel burned down in 1916, killing a family of six, Harry P. Hynds, blacksmith and entrepreneur, tackled the project and built the fireproof Hynds Building. (Corner of Capitol Avenue and 16th Street).

– Range detective Tom Horn was tried, convicted and hanged in Cheyenne for a murder he likely did not commit worked for ranchers who controlled large tracts of land in southeastern Wyoming. (Courtroom in Wyoming Home 216 W. 16th Street).

Photo by Barbara May – Jalan Crossland and his band are performing October 5 at The Shoot Out Cheyenne filmmakers’ reception. Join the facebook page by clicking on the image of Jalan Crossland in his Tensleep kitchen.

The Shoot Out Cheyenne filmmaking festival is kicking it up a notch with a filmmakers’ reception at the Atlas Theatre in Downtown Cheyenne followed by a show by the Jalan Crossland band. This is a film festival and we’ll also screen a short film entitled “Banjos in the Movies”

The Shoot Out Cheyenne brief items are described in detail here. If you have any questions, or comments, please comment. There is an historical slant this year and we hope you do some research and come up with a good story integrating the past with the present.

Teams that weren’t at The Shoot Out Cheyenne briefing can check out the Brief items in detail in this posting.

Production crews must select a minimum of seven of the eleven to use in their film. One of which MUST be in the first 30 seconds (30 seconds includes opening credits) of the film. In addition to the Mandatory Items, SEVEN of the ELEVEN items must include at least 2 LOCATIONS, 3 PROPS, 1 PLOT ELEMENT, THE PHRASE

Remember to provide time codes for each brief item!

Mandatory Brief Items
In addition to the Seven of Eleven Brief items, the following are mandatory:

– Wyoming Arts Council ArtScapes Magazine: They are available at the Wyoming Arts Council offices in the Kendrick Building 2330 Capitol Avenue. A copy also can be downloaded by clicking on the thumbnail image on the right.
– Visit Cheyenne “Live the Legend” logo: They are available at the Visit Cheyenne headquarters in the Depot 115 E. 15th Street. Download it by clicking on the thumbnail image on the right.- Smash Cut Edit – one scene abruptly cuts to another without transition, usually meant to startle the audience. Click on the thumbnail image to find out more information about this particular type of cut.

The Eleven Brief Items1. PLOT ELEMENTS – (pick at least one, do some research and build it into your story):

- Author Ernest Hemingway and novelist and war reporter Martha Gellhorn were married at the Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot in November 1940. A reporter covering the wedding in the dining room of the Union Pacific Railroad at Cheyenne, called it a “pairing of flint and steel” (No specific location is currently known, since the depot renovation did away with the old restaurant)

- At the urging of Esther Hobart Morris in South Pass City, Legislator William Bright sponsored a women’s suffrage bill before the Wyoming Territorial Legislature; Governor John A. Campbell signs bill approving full suffrage for women in 1869, the first in the nation. Esther Hobart Morris went on to be the nation’s first woman judge. (Plaque located around 215 West 17th Street).

- When the InterOcean Hotel burned down in 1916, killing a family of six, Harry P. Hynds, blacksmith and entrepreneur, tackled the project and built the fireproof Hynds Building in 1919. There is no wood in the construction. The door and window jambs are made of metal and painted to look like wood. The building and design was quite advanced for its time, being modeled after building in New York City. (Corner of Capitol Avenue and 16th Street).

- Range detective Tom Horn was tried, convicted and hanged in Cheyenne for the murder of Willie Nickell, the 14 year old son of a shepherding rancher which he likely did not commit. Horn worked for ranchers who controlled large tracts of land in southeastern Wyoming. (Courtroom in Wyoming Home Store 2nd floor and viewable from the sidewalk at 216 W. 16th Street).

5. LOCATION – The historic Cheyenne and Wyoming book section at Phoenix Books and Music 1612 Capitol Avenue. The display is in the front window and is accessible at all hours. (Store hours 10am to 6pm.)

The Shoot Out Cheyenne is also sponsoring an amateur photo contest with the main theme, ‘Historic Downtown Cheyenne”. Images must be taken of historic Downtown Cheyenne between September 20th and October 4th. Drop off your entries by October 4th to Ernie November next to the Atlas Theatre on 16th Street in Downtown Cheyenne.